Why Chappie Is Much More Than Just Another Sci-Fi Film

Chappie, the new robot adventure film starring Dev Patel, Sigourney Weaver, Hugh Jackman, and Sharito Copley, topped the box office this weekend. Yes, this says something about the appeal of futuristic sci-fi thrillers (robots are in charge of crime control in the movie), but it also makes a statement about the public's perception of how robots are increasingly playing a role in our lives.

At the Institute, we're seeing firsthand the rapid progression of robotics. In 2002, we gave Helen Grenier, the cofounder of iRobot, an Entrepreneur of the Year Award for helping to develop the Roomba. At the time, the idea of a disc-shaped robotic vacuum that navigated itself around a room was revolutionary.

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And in our March 2015 issue, we featured our best-of-the-test robotic vacuums. In our evaluation of 10 models, we found some that not only autonomously clean floors, but can also be scheduled in advance to work while you're away. We've come a long way!

Rachel Rothman

At the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show, we saw hundreds of robotic innovations, including the now-available healthcare assistant MEDi from RX Robots and Toshiba's futuristic Aiko Chihara employee. MEDi is a "humanoid" that serves as a friendly pain-management companion for children undergoing medical procedures and Aiko Chihara is a prototype of a robotic receptionist that talks and uses sign language. We've also come across other impressive robots like Japan's robotic astronaut Kirobo, Honda's highly mobile robot Asimo, the comedic RoboThespian, and the painting E-David.

In the future, we can expect more robots aimed at helping streamline everyday activities, replacing tedious chores, or providing a safer mode of conducting dangerous tasks. Robots are now playing a role in law enforcement (Knightscope's K5 robot has cameras and sensors capable of recognizing license plates and facial analysis) and disaster relief (Boston Dynamics worked in conjunction with DARPA to create Atlas, designed for use in disaster areas).

Chappie follows a long line of beloved films featuring robots: Star Wars (C-3PO and R2-D2), Star Trek (Data), RoboCop, Space Odyssey 2001 (HAL 9000), and many others. What is becoming increasingly clear, though, is that robotics is hardly just material for cinematic fantasy. It's quickly becoming part of our new reality.

Are you excited about the potential benefits, productivity, and safety offered by a future with more robotics or are you worried about automation overtaking our lives? Write in the comments below and let us know!

Rachel Rothman is the Technical Director of the Good Housekeeping Institute.